Reaching up — and out — hundreds of feet in the air, tower cranes are a marvelous bit of engineering. They keep their narrow masts steady, and have a way of getting taller as the building gets taller. Here's how they do it.

Animal Control in the DeSoto area found a 15-foot Burmese python, which got us thinking, where else would exotic animals be found in the Dallas-Fort Worth area? Turns out, the Human Society of North Texas has everything from pythons to chinchillas to bats. (Although bats can't be adopted. Sorry.)

City officials plan to remove and replace soil from two areas of Greenbriar Park that are contaminated with low levels of benzo[a]pyrene an organic compound found in residue from internal combustion engines, tobacco smoke and grilled meats. (Star-Telegram/Rodger Mallison)

McClatchy politics editor Steve "Buzz" Thomma and Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas) discussed some of the buzzing political issues of the election from Cleveland including border security, the future of the Republican party, Hillary Clinton, and who should be the next Supreme Court justice.